The Prophet Jonah lived in the eighth century before Christ, and is thought to be the son of the widow in Zarephath of Sidon, whom the Prophet Elias (Elijah) raised from the dead. The Word of the Lord spoke to Jonah commanding him to go to Nineveh and preach to that city and cry against it, “for their wickedness is come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). Jonah decided to flee from God and go to Tarshish by sea instead, but a tempest arose threatening all who were aboard, and by casting lots it was determined that it was by Jonah that this calamity came upon them.

Jonah told them to cast him into the sea, and then the storm ceased, but a great fish, usually thought of as a whale, swallowed him whole and he spent three days and nights in the belly of this great fish until it vomited him up onto dry land. The Prophet then did go and preach to Nineveh and they repented. God then removed the evil that was to come upon them. This angered Jonah, but he, too, repented. The three days and nights in the belly of the great fish is a sign of Christ’s Death and Three Day Burial before His Resurrection. Let us learn not to be reluctant with God.